Celebrate good times, c’mon. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Capitals 6, Rangers 5: Wednesday night’s Washington-New York matchup at Madison Square Garden had us bored to tears; but yesterday’s chapter in the sporting rivalry between the East Coast’s two seats of power held significantly more promise. It certainly didn’t disappoint. The Caps and the Rangers went back and forth in an penalty-heavy bout, but Nicklas Backstrom had the last laugh, capping off a four-assist game by scoring the game-winning, streak-maintaining power play goal — the seventh tally scored on the man advantage in the game — five minutes into the third. The Capitals’ roll now stands at 12 games, which is the NHL’s longest streak since the New Jersey Devils won 13 in a row during the 2000-2001 season. Backstrom wasn’t the only one who had a big night: Alex Ovechkin became the ninth player in NHL history to reach 500 career points in his first five seasons in the league with his second of the night, a crafty one-handed effort with time winding down in the second frame. Ovi also retook the league lead in goals scored during the game, while Mike Knuble scored his 10th goal in 11 games to move him to 20 on the season, and Tom Poti continued his stellar play from the blue line by beating Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.